Augustine Eguavoen says his squad “is on a momentum” as they countenance Tuesday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Amavubi of Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
“We have the right mentality now, and the mood in camp is excellent. Everyone in camp is eager for us to pick up the three points in Rwanda and stay firmly on top of the qualifying table. We are here for business and I am happy that everyone is on the same page,”Eguavoen told thenff.com.
“I am also happy that we have arrived here in good time, and the players can rest well while we look forward to the official training on Monday afternoon.”
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The Nigerian delegation to Tuesday’s match, which departed the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo at 12.48pm on Sunday aboard a ValueJet Airline’s Regional Jet 900, landed at the Kigali International Airport at 5.20pm Rwanda time. Rwanda is one hour ahead of Nigeria.
The delegation, which included 23 players and the team’s officials, was led by President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and also had NFF 1st Vice President Felix Anyansi-Agwu and a couple of Executive Committee Members, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, a couple of NFF Staff, few stakeholders and few media representatives.
The Amavubi forced Libya’s Mediterranean Knights to a 1-1 draw in Tripoli in their own Matchday 1 encounter.
Tuesday’s match will kick off at 3pm Rwanda time (2pm Nigeria time).
11 Comments
Well it’s winnable if you choose progression instead of regression.
Progression is being honest with the team and not allowing selfish interests and favoritism to override your decision making.
It’s obvious you’ve learned some lessons cuz I saw flexibility in your team tactics and objectivity in the changes you made in the second half. May be your assistants are more helpful this time around.
Now it’s time to move forward with the 11 that finished the game (Ndidi exception) and others that are yet to be given opportunity.
We have seen enough of some midfielder and attackers who are more interested in braids,celebrity, wrong interviews,seniority and notice me than giving their best to the team.
I believe 7 of the current 23 can be replaced with better options.After this match, arrange for friendlies to integrate new ones (Osho, Ogbu, Tim of Everton, Hamzat of Lens,Uche of Getafe) and get Orban, Ejuke and Balogun back in the team.
This will help strengthen the team and make others sit up.
Just my cents.
Perfectly on point! Nice contribution.
Nice point, especially where you asked that a friendly match be organized to test few new players to make the team stronger.
The players listed are spot on…We need Balogun back in the tea.We need a stronger squad to wrestle South Africa others for the sole ticket of our World Cup qualification group.
To achieve this mission ,we need a very good squad and strong bench hoping for key players to remain fit.
The World Cup qualification is not out of reach,only if we do the needful like you rightly said,improve the squad and be consistent with the good works.
I support this notion wholly@larry.
Coach Fidelis and Ogunmodede was a good addition but I still have issues with NFF until they start acting responsible.
You just said my mind. Truly, the credit goes to coach Eguaveon for selecting good LOCAL coaches as his team of assistants. And on that, the NFF should by now realized that local coaches are preferable/UNSTOPPABLE to some untested foreign coaches. Only a fool would now be envisaging appointment of a foreign coach when Eguaveon and co are already winning even within such a limited time frame. Even the substitution made in the match against the squirrels… We saw how Osimhen cam in less than 20mins to go, and scored a wonder within 6mins of his introduction, that’s a coach who reads matches with tactical acumen.
Coach Eguaveon, I have my reservation of being a cautious optimist and on that, your boys mustn’t complacent for this is another win on the offer. Just fo it for Nigerians.
#SoarSuperEagles!
*do
Gusau NFF should give Eguaveon and his boys a 4 year contract for effect.
Make Una calm down. Rwanda is playing the match at 2PM in a high altitude. Pray your ajebutter foreign pros adapt to the conditions before Una elevate Eguavoen again who is in his FOURTH STINT as national team coach – that should count for something. Eguavoens assistants are very active in the coaching scene but is Eguavoen active?